For nearly five decades, The Kettle Society has been a lifeline for Vancouverites living with mental illness, offering housing, outreach, and recovery programs that meet people where they are and walk with them toward stability. At the heart of the organization is its low-barrier Mental Health Drop-In Centre, open 365 days a year, where hundreds find meals, medical support, and community. Michelle Vanderzon, Director of Philanthropy and Strategic Partnerships, has been with The Kettle for over four years, driven by a personal connection to the cause.
Describe your charity/non-profit/volunteer work in a few sentences.
The Kettle Society is a non-profit and registered charity that has been helping people living with mental illness in Vancouver lead healthier, fuller lives for almost 50 years. Our programs span housing, outreach, recovery, and community support, meeting people where they are and walking with them toward recovery.
At our heart is our Mental Health Drop-In Centre, a low-barrier space open 365 days a year where people can access meals, showers, medical support, and a sense of belonging. For many, it is the first step toward stability and recovery. Grounded in dignity and inclusion, The Kettle meets people where they are, creating pathways to recovery, stability, and hope. We believe that every person deserves to feel safe, cared for, and connected, and we work every day to make that possible.
What problem does it aim to solve?
The Kettle works at the intersection of mental illness, homelessness, trauma, and poverty, challenges that are deeply interconnected. Across Metro Vancouver, we’ve seen a surge in the number of people who are struggling, and the complexity of their needs has never been greater.
We are responding to the reality that mental health supports and housing must go hand in hand. Many of our members are navigating overlapping barriers such as undiagnosed mental illness, substance use, brain injury, and the ongoing effects of trauma. The Kettle provides integrated, low-barrier support that helps people meet their most basic needs like food, safety, and connection, while also addressing the long-term work of recovery.
In a city where isolation, stigma, and lack of affordable housing leave too many people behind, we create a place where every person has a place to belong.
When did you start/join it?
I joined The Kettle a little over four years ago.
What made you want to get involved?
My mom lives with a mental illness and has experienced homelessness and the struggles of substance use. I often think about how different her life might have been if she had a place like The Kettle, a place that meets you where you are and believes in your worth.
I see my mom in the people we serve, and that drives me to work hard to raise the funds that keep our programs running and growing. I feel grateful to be part of an organization that not only provides practical support but also restores people’s sense of dignity and hope.
What was the situation like when you started?
When I started, we were still in the thick of COVID-19. It was an incredibly challenging time as isolation was taking a toll on mental health, and our staff were doing everything they could to reach people safely. Despite all the uncertainty, The Kettle never closed its doors. We adapted, got creative, and continued to show up for people when they needed us most.
How has it changed since?
Since then, The Kettle has continued to evolve and grow alongside our community. The need has only intensified, and we’ve seen an unprecedented increase in the number of people turning to us for support, and the challenges they face are more complex than ever, requiring coordinated and compassionate care.
In response, we’ve expanded our services and introduced new programs that fill critical gaps in the continuum of care. One of the most exciting developments has been the opening of Canada’s first Recovery Café, a peer-led recovery space that offers members a sense of community, belonging, and accountability as they work toward their recovery goals. The Recovery Café model has given people a place to connect, rebuild trust, and find purpose – a natural extension of The Kettle’s commitment to holistic, person-centred support.
At the same time, our Drop-In Centre continues to operate at or over capacity, underscoring the urgent need for a new purpose-built space designed with and for our members that will increase capacity, safety, and accessibility. The project will also include more than 40 units of supportive housing for people transitioning out of homelessness. It’s a vital step toward meeting the growing needs of our community and ensuring that no one is turned away.
What more needs to be done?
Beyond more housing and mental health services, I believe we need more compassion. We serve people from all walks of life, people who have had families, careers, and homes, people who have endured trauma, lost employment, or experienced a life-altering event that changed everything.
It is easier than many realize for someone to find themselves in a vulnerable place. I have met countless people who once lived very stable lives, teachers, nurses, tradespeople, parents, who, after a crisis or loss, found themselves isolated, struggling, and without support.
And I have also seen incredible resilience. I have met members who are now healthy, stable, and living independently because they had a place like The Kettle to turn to. These are our neighbours, and many more are suffering in silence because of stigma.
We need to build a community that understands that mental health challenges can happen to anyone, and that recovery begins with empathy, connection, and consistent support.
How can our readers help?
There are so many meaningful ways to make a difference:
– Donate to keep our Drop-In Centre open 365 days a year. Every gift helps provide food, showers, clothing, and connection.
– Join The Collective Brew, our monthly donor community, to help keep coffee in the pot and community alive at The Kettle.
– Host a clothing drive. Warm coats, socks, and boots are always needed.
– Or simply start a conversation. Challenge stigma when you see it and remind others that compassion changes lives.
Learn more or get involved at www.thekettle.ca
Do you have any events coming up?
Yes. Every November, we host Art Against Stigma as part of the Eastside Culture Crawl. It is one of my favourite events of the year. We feature dozens of artists with lived experience of mental health challenges, and 100 percent of art sales go directly to the artists. It is a beautiful celebration of creativity, resilience, and the power of self-expression to challenge stigma and connect the community. Taking place November 20th-23rd at our Recovery Café – 620 Clark Drive.
Where can we follow you?
Website | Instagram | Facebook | LinkedIn
PAY IT FORWARD: What is an awesome local charity that you love?
A Better Life Foundation is one I deeply admire. They create lasting change through food security, social inclusion, and employment programs that uplift individuals and strengthen the community. Their work ensures that everyone has access to nutritious food and a sense of belonging, values that align closely with ours at The Kettle.
